diff --git a/src/XrdCrypto/XrdCryptoRSA.cc b/src/XrdCrypto/XrdCryptoRSA.cc
index c61883dfcf7..7eb61125857 100644
--- a/src/XrdCrypto/XrdCryptoRSA.cc
+++ b/src/XrdCrypto/XrdCryptoRSA.cc
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ int XrdCryptoRSA::ImportPublic(const char *, int)
 }
 
 //_____________________________________________________________________________
-int XrdCryptoRSA::ExportPublic(char *, int)
+int XrdCryptoRSA::ExportPublic(char *&, int)
 {
    // Abstract method to export the public key
    ABSTRACTMETHOD("XrdCryptoRSA::ExportPublic");
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ int XrdCryptoRSA::ImportPrivate(const char *, int)
 }
 
 //_____________________________________________________________________________
-int XrdCryptoRSA::ExportPrivate(char *, int)
+int XrdCryptoRSA::ExportPrivate(char *&, int)
 {
    // Abstract method to export the private key
    ABSTRACTMETHOD("XrdCryptoRSA::ExportPrivate");
diff --git a/src/XrdCrypto/XrdCryptoRSA.hh b/src/XrdCrypto/XrdCryptoRSA.hh
index d836182bdf0..385a04a8539 100644
--- a/src/XrdCrypto/XrdCryptoRSA.hh
+++ b/src/XrdCrypto/XrdCryptoRSA.hh
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@ public:
 
    // Import / Export methods
    virtual int ImportPublic(const char *in, int lin);
-   virtual int ExportPublic(char *out, int lout);
+   virtual int ExportPublic(char *&out, int lout);
    int ExportPublic(XrdOucString &exp);
    virtual int ImportPrivate(const char *in, int lin);
-   virtual int ExportPrivate(char *out, int lout);
+   virtual int ExportPrivate(char *&out, int lout);
    int ExportPrivate(XrdOucString &exp);
 
    // Encryption / Decryption methods